Much like the English Puritans who settled San Andrés in 1630, I also escaped Massachusetts for more fertile, tropical climes. Except for I don’t think the Puritans were able to get their scuba diving certification.

So you are planning some sort of backpacking/volunteering/vacationing adventure somewhere in Central America, and you would like to know a few ways to act like less of a fool while you’re there. Good news–there is still hope for you, amigo! After spending time (shortest: a weekend; longest: eight months) in all of the Spanish-speaking countries in Central…

But in reality we don’t have to drive 3 hours to see the face of poverty. It is everywhere, even here in our nice hotel. It’s the blank stare of a plainly dressed, dark-skinned woman sitting on the lobby couch next to a well-dressed, older white man It’s the same girl quietly crossing herself and…